Chlorination concerns resurface as N fowleri claims another life

Karachi
Doubts over claims of proper chlorination in the city's water supply have resurfaced after 23-year old Owais, son of Sher Muhammad, died of Naegleria fowleri at a private hospital this past week.
The ailment caused by the brain eating amoeba has claimed around 10 lives in the province during the current year.
A health official on condition of anonymity confirmed that 95 percent of the water pumping stations, 10 out of 432, in the metropolis were found with inadequate proportions of chlorine against the standard level of 1.5 parts per million to 2ppm.
The official stated that 18 of the pumping stations had not used chlorine at all while 19 were found with a 0.75ppm of chlorine; 21 had 1ppm of chlorine while 265 had 0.50ppm; 65 had 0.25ppm and 18 had a 0.15ppm of chlorine.
Moreover, the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) Managing Director’s order to increase the existent 11 chlorine boosters to 22 boosters were yet to be materialised especially after the KWSB had reportedly raised its budget for water chlorination.